Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Bella Nascimento poured in a game-high 22 points in a 66-62 loss to Niagara on Saturday at Draddy Gym.

Manhattan falls to 5-8, 2-2 in the MAAC while Niagara improves to 3-8 and 2-1 in the MAAC.

"Another hard fought MAAC battle but we need to do a better job valuing the basketball and getting key rebounds at crucial parts of the game," commented head coach Heather Vulin following the contest. "We will learn from this and continue to hold ourselves to a championship standard."

The Purple Eagles' signature hurricane defense caused havoc for the Jaspers immediately. Even though the defense forced the Green and White into seven turnovers, the Jaspers entered the first media timeout with a 12-8 lead. Nascimento provided a pair of triples. At the end of the opening 10, the Purple Eagles clung to a one-point lead, 19-18, while Nascimento provided 12 of those points on 4-9 from the field and a perfect 2-2 from downtown.

The second quarter opened with a Jasper steal as Jade Blagrove poked the ball free at the top of the key. The Jaspers regained the lead a minute in thanks to Nascimento following her shot, securing the rebound, and converting on a second-chance layup, making the score 20-19.

In the back half of the quarter, Helena Galunic missed a layup, however Dee Dee Davis secured the offensive board and finished through contact for an and-one. She hit the free throw to tie the game at 27. At halftime, the Purple Eagles held a 29-17 lead. In the first half, Nascimento provided 16 points while Blagrove secured six rebounds.

The third quarter featured the same fast-paced, high-tempo basketball that was the story of the first half. Petra Juric took a feed from Leyla Ozturk and finished through contact and got the foul call. She connected on the free throw making the score 31-30 Niagara. The two teams traded the lead the next two trips down the floor, with Ozturk scoring on back-to-back trips. When the horn blew for the third quarter media timeout, the Jaspers led 40-37.

The lead grew as Nascimento connected on a pair of three throws, 42-37, right out of the media timeout giving her 20 points on the afternoon. The offense tightened up in the third quarter, only committing one turnover in the quarter, which played a big role in the 49-41 lead Manhattan took into the final quarter.

Niagara came out firing in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 51-47 until Blagrove drilled a triple to stop the momentum. Niagara regained the lead with under two minutes left off an Angel Parker steal and transition layup. The Jaspers broke the Purple Eagle press right after and Ozturk found Juric for a midrange jumper to regain the lead, causing Niagara to call a timeout.

Aalyiah Parker gave the Purple Eagles a one-point lead with 1:17 left after finishing through contact. The ensuing possession resulted in a Jasper turnover. While the Purple Eagles missed their next shot and the Jaspers got out in transition, Juric could not finish at the rim. With 19.2 seconds left, the Jaspers were down three with the ball. Nascimento fired a three but could not connect, sealing the win for Niagara.

Juric provided 15 points and five boards. Blagrove hauled in 10 rebounds and added nine points.

The Purple Eagles forced the Green and White to commit 33 turnovers, 22 of which resulted from steals.

Manhattan returns to action in the new year, heading to Poughkeepsie for a matchup with Marist on Thursday, Jan. 5 with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

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